Fatal bathing accident: 80-year-old dies in the Baltic Sea near Kühlungsborn

Fatal bathing accident: 80-year-old dies in the Baltic Sea near Kühlungsborn

In a tragic turn of fate, today, July 2, 2025, there was a bathing accident in the Baltic Sea, which demanded the life of an 80-year-old woman from the Rostock district. The affected Rostocker went swimming around 5:45 p.m. and did not return. Their relatives, who were also on the beach, immediately informed the police, which immediately triggered the search by the water protection police. After half an hour, a rescue helicopter was able to discover the woman about 80 meters from the coast. Unfortunately, every help came too late, and the attempts to rescue were unsuccessful, like Ostsee-Zeitung reported.

This tragic incident is already marking the third bathing death in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania this season. Bathing accidents have risen dramatically in the past few weeks: On May 15, a 65-year-old swimmer near the Prerower pier died, followed by the fatal accident of a 71-year-old vacationer on June 15. In a comprehensive consideration of the DLRG (German life rescue society) it becomes clear that the number of deaths when swimming in Germany increases.

increasing number of bathing accidents

Tagesschau reports.

The DLRG recorded a total of 411 drowned people in German waters for 2024, an increase of 31 deaths compared to the previous year. This marks the third year in a row with an increase of the drowned. The President of the DLRG, Ute Vogt, expressed hope that people will be sensitized by education about the upcoming hot months. Parents of small children in particular should be made aware of the risks.

growing dangers when bathing

Another concern: Most fatal bathing accidents occur away from guarded bathing areas. By closing hundreds of bathrooms in the past 25 years, many have been looking for alternatives to cool down, which increases the risk. Lakes and rivers are therefore a greater danger, while swimming and outdoor pools are considered safer. In this context, the DLRG calls for better and multilingual information about dangers of water to prevent accidents, according to the statistics.

The events of the past few weeks make it clear: We have to become aware of the dangers when bathing and promote the responsible use of our waters. Every bathing trip should be addressed with the necessary caution so that such tragic accidents no longer happen.